About Frederick Robie, Governor

Frederick Robie (August 12, 1822 - February 3, 1912) was an American politician who most notably served as the 39th Governor of Maine.

Early life

Robie was born in Gorham, Maine on August 12, 1822. He studied at the Gorham Academy. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1841. After completing his graduation, he taught academies for a time in the South. He then took a medical course at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia and received his medical degree in 1844. He had a successful medical career. He established medical practices in Biddeford, Maine, and then in Waldoboro, Maine. He eventually practiced medicine Gorham, Maine, the place where he was born.

Civil War

During the American Civil War, Robie accepted an appointment from President Lincoln as Paymaster of United States Volunteers. He served with the Potomac army from 1861 to 1863. He then was transferred to Boston as Chief Paymaster of the Department of New England. He later served in Maine administering the final payments of discharged soldiers.

Politics

Robie served as a member of the Maine State Senate from 1866 to 1867. He also served as a member of the Maine House of Representatives from 1868 to 1878. He was speaker of the house in 1872 and 1876. He served as a member of the governor’s executive council in 1880 and from 1881 to 1882. In 1882 he was nominated for Governor and was elected governor by a popular vote. He was re-elected in 1884 by nearly 20,000 majority. He left office on January 5, 1887.

Later years

After leaving office, Robie practiced medicine. He also served on the First National Bank of Portland and the Portland and Rochester Railroad Company. He died on February 3, 1912.